International Students

Current International Students

There are many services that the Center for Global Study & Engagement provides for you. Perhaps our most visible role is to assist new students upon arrival and provide orientation sessions that are designed with international student needs in mind. For F-1 visa and J-1 visa holders, we also serve as the primary advisors for visa requirements and visa benefits. If you are unsure where to find a particular service on campus or how to navigate through student requirements, our staff can provide direction and explain which offices and departments are relevant to your question or problem. Throughout the year, our staff will send messages to you about social and academic events, information sessions, important deadlines, and international student issues, such as Winter Break housing, summer storage, and tax requirements. While much of our communication will come as emails, we want you to feel comfortable reaching out to us when you have questions or when you simply want to talk. You can find our staff in our offices (Stern 13 and Stern 18) during business hours (8:30am - 4:30pm) - Please, make an appointment.

Some of our services are best requested via email so we have a record of your exact request and the date you made the request. Following are services you can request by email:

verification letters for applications to the Social Security administration and Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation

verification letters for students who must document long-term enrollment or visa status for their home government for purposes of postponing military service, exemption from national health insurance, and similar

verification letters for students whose family members need supporting documentation for tourist visa applications to visit for graduation. Please fill out the request form and email it to us

answers to questions about F-1 and J-1 visa regulations

F-1 students only: general information about off-campus employment authorization

F-1 students only: updates to your US or home country address for your SEVIS record

F-1 students only: transfer of your SEVIS record to another US school

Other services are best handled face-to-face. Contact us to schedule a meeting for the following:

Questions and problems related to your adjustment to US life

Official signatures on immigration forms ("drop-in" hours will be scheduled for students needing travel signatures for Winter Break and Summer Break)

Questions about how F-1 and J-1 regulations apply to your specific situation and plans

F-1 students only: changes to the program or financial information on your I-20 form, including changes of major, graduation date, and financial aid